Supporting device for caps



NOV. 30 1926.

s. E. ALEXANDER SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR CAPS Filed Oct. .17, 1923 a m 1 I. 1 I J H h .wm I v .r w x .M n. a. 5.. i. .1 3 .2

INVENTOR S E. ufi iaxwaaer. A TTOR NE YS WITNESSES Patented Nov. 30, 1926. .7

UNITED STAT S'YLVAN ELROY ALEXANDER, OF MITCHELL, SOUTH DAKOTA.

SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR CAPS.

Application filed October 17,1923. Serial No. 669,154.

This invention relates to supporting devices for caps designed to conveniently, properly and individually support the caps for advantageous display, and in such men ner that the caps may be readily associated with the support or taken. therefrom without danger of injury or damage to the cap.

Another object is to provide a supporting device of this character which is of extremely simple and durable construction, ornamental in appearance, adjustable so as to be adapted to support caps of various sizes and easy and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in certain novel features of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts .which will be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing a show case equipped with the supporting devices constituting the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, showing a cap clip and portions of the supporting bar with which the clips are associated; and Figure 3 is a plan view of the device as shown in Figure 2 and also one of the pins of the show caseupon which the supporting bars are mounted. 35 Referring to the drawings wherein for the sake of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates generally the supporting device. As shown in Figure 1 these supporting devices may be suitably arranged and mounted within a show case so as to advantageously display the hats or caps carried thereby. Each supporting device comprises a pair of supporting bars 12 arranged and secured in spaced parallel relation by suitable spacing and fasteningmeans. Preferably the bars are held in spaced relation by spacing sleeves 13 and are secured together in spaced relation by rivets 14 Which pass through the spacing sleeves 13. The supporting bars may be connected to the frame of the show case or other stationary structure by hooks or pins 15 extending through apertures provided therefor in the supporting bars and threaded into or otherwise mounted in the frame of the casing. On each pair of supporting bars a plurality of cap clips, designated generally at 16 are adjustably mounted and supported. The cap clips are constructed of resilient sheet metal and preferably are made of spring steel which is nickelplated to enhance its appearance. Each cap clip 16 comprises a pair of main spring members 17 which are substantially U-shaped, horizontally arranged and oppositely disposed with respect to each other. A vertically d1sposed plate 18 is integrally formed with the lower le of each of the main U-shaped spring mem ers 17. These flat plates 18 are urged toward and against each other by the action of the spring members 17 and constitute the jaws or means of the clip which engage and grip the peak or visor of the cap. The broad flat surfaces presented by the plates 18 are adapted to grip the cap and hold the same Without danger of injurmg or damaging the cap while admitting of ready removal or replacement of the cap in the clip. Auxiliary spring members, designated generally at -19, are provided and preferably consist of curved strips of metal having connecting portions 20 integral with the upper ends of the plates 18 and extending at right angles thereto to provide corners 21 between the connecting portions 20 and the plates 18. These corners 21 are also engagcable with the peak of the cap and enhance the gripping action of the plates 18. The curved strips which constitute the auxiliary spring members also include portions 22 which bear against the plates 18 and the main spring members 17 at the juncture of these parts so as to aid and reinforcethe main spring member 17 in urging the plates 18 toward and against each other and to reinforce the plates 18.

A hanger, designated generally at 25, is provided for adjustably supporting the cap clips on the supporting bars 12 and preferably comprises a pair of vertically disposed plates 26 secured to each other in face to' face relation. As shown in. the drawings one such plate 26 is provided for and integrally formed with each main spring member 16, the vertical plate 26 extending substan tially at right angles to the upper leg of its main spring member so as to define a shoulder 27. In assembly the hanger constituted by the plates 26 fits in between the spaced supporting bars 12 and is slidable or adjustable longitudinally on the supporting bars. The shoulder 27- is engageable with the under edge of the supportmg bars to limit the upward movement of the cap clip and in order to prevent the clip from falling downwardly from the supporting bars the upper ends of the plates 26are fiangedor deflected outwardly, as at 28, the outwardly and oppositely defiectedends 28 being engageable with the tops of the bars 12. Preferably the plates 26 making up the hanger 25 are twisted so that the longitudinal axis of the cli is arranged at an angle of 45 with respect to the supporting bars 12 in the assembly. With this arrangement the clip proper is so disposed that the aws or gripping plates 18 are more readily viewable andaccessible to facilitate replacement or removal of the hat or caps.

In, use the peak or visor of the cap may be readily introduced in between the gripping plates or jaws 18, the outer spring member 16 having curved surfaces 17 constituting guides to facilitate insertion of the peak of the cap. When inserted the peak of the cap is securely gripped by the broad flat gripping surfaces and will not be accidentally dropped or be dislodged from its grip although susceptible of ready removal by the salesman or other person handling the caps. The provision of the shoulders 21 enhances the gripping action of the plates l8 as these shoulders or corners 21 tend to press into the material of the peak. As previously described the plates 18 are resiliently urged into gripping engagement with the peak of the cap not only by the main spring 16 but also by the action of the resilient members 19 which aid the main spring members'16 in their action and reinforce the plates 18. The novel form of clip and supporting means enables ready adjustment Oi the clips which may be slid lengthwise of the supporting bars so as to make the device adaptable for supporting hats of various sizes.

It is to be understood that in lieu of twisting the plates 26 so as to offset the clip and hanger, the metal which makes up the parts of the device may be so out from its blank that the portions which constitute the plates 26 extend angularly with respect to the portions which constitute the spring members 17 whereby the same efiect or angular relation is had.

I claim:

1. In combination, a pair of supporting bars arranged and secured in spaced relation, a cap clip including a pair of spring members having means for engaging the cap and a hanger for the cap .clip comprising a pair of plates connected to the spring members and secured togdther in face to face relation and slidably arranged in between the spaced supporting bars, said plates having their upper ends oppositely deflected and engageable with the tops of the supporting bars.

2. In combination, apair of supporting bars arranged and secured inspacedrelation, a cap clip including a pair of spring members having means for engaging the cap and a hanger for the cap clip comprising apair of plates connected to the spring members and secured together in face to face relation and slidably arranged in between the spaced supporting bars, said plates having their upper ends oppositely deflected and engageable with the tops of the supporting bars, said hanger being angularly arranged with respect to the spring members so that the clips are disposed at an oblique angle across the supporting bars.

3. A cap clip constructed of resilient metal and comprising a pair of horizontally disposed oppositely arranged and substantially U-shaped main spring members, the upper legs of said spring members being connected, the lower legs of'the spring members having integrally formed therewith a pair of vertically disposed flat plates resiliently urged toward and against each other by the action of the spring member and constituting cap engaging jaws, and a pair of auxiliary spring members integrally formed with and extending at right angles to the plates and disposed within the main spring members, said auxiliary spring members being curved around within the main spring members for substantially the full extent of the main spring members and terminating in bearing portion engaging the main spring members and the plates at the juncture thereof to aid the main spring members in urging the plates toward and against each other.

4. A cap clip'constructed of resilient material and comprising a pair of main sprin members, plates carried by and urge toward each other by the main spring mem. bers and constituting cap-engaging jaws and auxiliary spring members carried by and co-operable with the plates, said auxiliary spring members being curved around within the main spring members for substantially the full extent of the main spring members and terminating in bearing portions engaging the main spring members and plates at the juncture thereof to aid the main spring members in urging the plates toward and against each other.

SYLVAN ELROY ALEXANDER.

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